440 Stainless Steel

440 stainless steel is a higher grade of cutlery steel, with more carbon, allowing for much better edge retention when properly heat-treated. It can be hardened to approximately Rockwell 58 hardness, making it one of the hardest stainless steels. Due to its toughness and relatively low cost, most display-only and replica swords or knives are made of 440 stainless. 440 stainless steel is Available in four grades:
Type 440A—has the least amount of carbon making this the most stain-resistant.
Type 440B—slightly more carbon than 440A.
Type 440C—has the greatest amount of carbon of the Type 440 variants. Strongest and considered more desirable in knifemaking than the Type 440A variant, except for diving or other salt-water applications. This variant is also more readily available than other variants of Type 440.
Type 440F—a free-machining variant. Contains the same high carbon content as Type 440C.

You can view all of our 440 Stainless steel swords and knives for sale below.